White Mountain Apache Tribe (Arizona)

Yankton Sioux Tribe (South Dakota)

Flip through the medals using the back and forward arrows aboveor use the list below to view details and high-resolution images.

On November 20, 2013, in Emancipation Hall at the U.S. Capitol, 33 tribes were recognized for the dedication and valor of Native American
code talkers to the U.S. Armed Services during World Wars I and II. Of the tribes recognized, 25 were presented with their
Congressional Gold Medals.

Santee Sioux Nation(Nebraska)

Obverse

Designer: Frank Morris
Engraver: Phebe Hemphill

The obverse design depicts a Santee Sioux code talker looking up and focusing on the task required. The barbed wire is a symbol of the threat to the soldier. Inscriptions are MDEWAKANTON, WAKPEKUTE and SANTEE DAKOTA SIOUX CODE TALKERS. According to the Santee Sioux Tribe, “Mdewakanton” translates to “dwellers at spirit lake” and “wakpekute” to “shooters amongst the leaves.”

Reverse

Designer: Charles L. Vickers
Engraver: Charles L. Vickers

The reverse design depicts the Santee Sioux Nation seal. Inscriptions are WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR II and ACT OF CONGRESS 2008.

Note: Move your mouse over the images of the coin to zoom in on its detail.

The Program

The Code Talkers Recognition Act of 2008 (Act) (Public Law 110-420) requires the Secretary of the Treasury to strike Congressional Medals in recognition of the dedication and valor of Native American code talkers to the U.S. Armed Services during World War I and World War II. “Code talkers” refers to those Native Americans who used their tribal languages as a means of secret communication during wartime.

Under the Act, unique gold medals are struck for each Native American tribe that had a member who served as a code talker. Silver duplicate medals are presented to the specific code talkers, their next of kin, or other personal representatives. In addition, bronze duplicates are available for sale to the public.

The Navajo Nation was awarded Congressional Gold Medals in 2001 under Public Law 106-554.